The fast food at Five Guys is notoriously expensive for a burger and chips - but the global restaurant chain has finally revealed why its seemingly simple menu doesn't come cheap.
If you're used to getting a burger for less than the price of your bus fare then you'd better find somewhere else to eat - as Five Guys can charge pretty hefty prices for their American staples, with one customer sharing their outrage at being charged $74 for their order.
When compared to other fast-food chain menus, the choice seems pretty limited with only two main choices; a burger or a cheeseburger. Pretty simple.
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However, the menu is tailored to supply a myriad of ways to create your burger with toppings, sauces and extras, which are free and unlimited.
From classic choices like ketchup and pickles to more off-beat options like jalapeño peppers and HP Sauce - you get to pimp up your patty with whatever toppings you fancy, which are then covered by the price of the burger.
Want ketchup, mayo, hot sauce, relish and BBQ sauce? Weird, but go for it.
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Five Guys is about making your order exactly how you want it, without messing with the formula and recipe.
What you taste on your local high street will be the same in Hong Kong and Dubai, as well as the restaurant's home in the US.
"People come to Five Guys for a simple, great American burger. And that’s what they will get here." Iain Ross-Mackenzie, director of operations-APAC at Five Guys International told TRP.
When asked, Iain noted that Five Guys will not be 'localising' their flavours unlike other burger chains that introduce specialty flavours; think the McSpicy Paneer in an Indian McDonalds or bamboo shoots and lotus root with your Chinese KFC chicken.
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But why exactly do Five Guys charge so much for their relatively small menu?
"Nothing in store is frozen. We only ever use fresh ingredients," Iain explained.
Five Guys ensures that their burgers are served with the best quality produce, from the never-frozen beef patties and fresh vegetables in the burgers to the fries, which are hand-cut in store from potatoes all over the world
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They even have an in-store sign to let you know where the potatoes being served that day came from.
Despite its cult following, Five Guys also has a pretty all-American community feel.
"Five Guys is your regular burger joint, where you know the people and the food and we know you and your preferences," Iain said.
So you're not just paying for the freshest ingredients, but also for the service and All-American culture.
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The more you know.
Topics: Food and Drink, Money
Amelia Jones